EP0343192B1 - Stud link for energy supply chains - Google Patents

Abstract

In a stud link for energy supply chains which includes side plates (1, 11) connected by transverse studs (33), the energy supply chain being intended for the uptake of cables, hoses, and the like and the stud links being designed to connect in a hinged manner with adjacent stud links, separating studs (4, 19, 29) are inserted between and held by the transverse studs. Intermediate studs (5, 6, 22, 23) are inserted between the transverse studs and are held parallel to the transverse studs in predetermined positions by the separating studs. In a particular embodiment the ends of the intermediate studs are provided with catching lugs which slide into retaining slots on one or both sides of the separating studs and on one side of additional closing studs. The lengths of the intermediate studs are selected from a set of modular dimensions. The inserted separating studs and intermediate studs allow the enclosed space or the cross-section of the opening of each stud link to be subdivided as desired within wide limits, thereby ensuring proper control of the cables or hoses.

Description

The invention relates to a chain link for an energy supply chain, which comprises two side plates connected by transverse webs, which are designed for articulated connection with subsequent chain links, and the inner space delimited by the side plates and the transverse webs by separating webs inserted between the transverse webs and running perpendicular to them and is divided by intermediate webs inserted between adjacent dividing webs and running perpendicular to these.

Such energy supply chains are used to hold cables, hoses and the like. The chain links are box-shaped. The articulated connection takes place in that the side plates are alternately provided with pins and circular openings, the pins of one chain link engaging in the depressions of the following chain link. The articulated connection can also be made in any other way.

The pivotability of successive chain links against one another is limited either by stops or in another way.

Such chain links of known energy supply chains are generally made of thermoplastic, either in one piece or made up of several parts.

The state of the art is called DE-C-3414412, which shows an energy guiding chain in which each chain link is formed by side plates and cross bars and the interior space delimited by the side plates and cross bars is divided by intermediate bars inserted between the cross bars. This is shown in the cited publication in particular in FIGS. 2 and 7. 2 also shows the articulated connection of the chain links.

Another prior art document is CH-A-635175 (GB-A-2007326), which also shows an energy chain with inserted separators.

Another publication is DE-A-3531006 (DE-U-8524845). The limitation of the ability to interlock successive chain links by means of stops is particularly evident from FIGS. 4 and 5.

The invention relates to all of the aforementioned types of chain links for energy supply chains.

In order to guide the inserted cables or hoses in an orderly manner from chain link to chain link and to maintain this order even during operation, the interior of each chain link is divided by the said separating webs and intermediate webs.

A fixed connection of the dividers to the crosspieces, for example in one-piece design, has the disadvantage that a larger number of different chain links must be kept ready for the different applications, which increases the cost of manufacture and storage. It has therefore already been proposed to insert the dividers loosely and held only by friction on the transverse webs. However, this led to faults due to the falling out of individual dividers.

The invention has for its object to provide a chain link for an energy supply chain of the type mentioned in such a way that the position of the separating webs can initially be freely determined, but then the separating webs can be held in the desired position in a simple manner without the risk of falling out consists.

This object is achieved in that the dividers formed as rectangular plates are arranged displaceably between the transverse webs and at their corners projecting and pair-wise supporting cross-shaped support lugs which prevent the dividers from falling out, that the dividers on both sides with one or several, distributed over the height and in each case aligned with each other holding grooves and that the intermediate webs carry at their ends locking lugs, each of which can optionally be inserted into one of the holding grooves.

Although the dividers of a chain link according to the invention, as in the known designs, are held non-positively by the transverse webs, a positive connection is achieved by the intermediate webs connected to the transverse webs, which prevents inadvertent displacement of the dividers towards one or the other side plate. The intermediate webs held by the dividers are supported with their free ends on the side plates as soon as the dividing web (s) are to be moved laterally and prevent further movement.

The separating webs have support lugs at their ends, with which they grip around one or the other crossbar on the underside in a fork shape.

The intermediate webs provided according to the invention form subspaces which allow further sorting of inserted cables or hoses.

In order to give the ends of the intermediate webs facing the side plates of the chain link an even firmer hold, it is preferably provided that an end web is inserted at the ends of the cross webs, which has a fitting rib on its side adjoining the side plate, which has a fitting groove of a corresponding shape and Size engages in the side plate and extends in the direction from one to the other crossbar. In this case, the end web has on its side opposite the fitting rib one or more holding grooves distributed over its height, the height of which is flush with the holding grooves in the separating webs. The fitting rib in connection with fitting groove prevents the end web from falling out under the action of the cables moving back and forth somewhat during operation. Such a terminus is in particular used especially when it is no longer possible due to the special design of the crosspieces in the vicinity of the side plates to insert a separating web with support lugs directly on the side plate, which engages around the crossbars in a fork-shaped manner.

The ends of the intermediate webs are either supported only on the end web or are held by this end web.

For a chain link of a certain size, separating webs and, if appropriate, end webs are preferably kept ready according to the distance between the cross webs of the chain link. For this purpose, intermediate webs of different lengths can then be kept in stock, which enable the interior to be subdivided as desired. In order to take full advantage of the space predetermined in this direction by the two side plates of the chain link, intermediate webs are kept ready, the different lengths of which are dimensioned according to a desired grid dimension. One can subdivide the interior or passage cross section of a chain link, for example, into subspaces whose transverse dimensions behave like 1: 2: 4 or similar to one another.

The latching lugs at the ends of the intermediate webs and the holding grooves receiving them can be shaped in various ways, a dovetail shape having proven particularly expedient. A preferred design of the locking lugs and the retaining grooves results from subclaims 5 and 6.

Preferably, the locking lugs extend only over part of the length of the end faces of the intermediate webs, and there are locking pins in the vicinity of the other end of these end faces, which locking holes in the separating webs correspond to the locking receptacle.

The bottom of each retaining groove preferably forms a ramp towards the end thereof, on which the locking pin slides when inserted.

• Fig. 1 einen Schnitt durch ein Kettenglied, bestehend aus zwei Seitenplatten und zwei diese verbindenden Querstegen wobei links und rechts der strichpunktierten Mittellinie Kettenglieder verschiedener Art dargestellt sind;
• Fig. 1a eine Draufsicht auf das Ende eines Quersteges für ein Kettenglied anderer Bauart, gesehen in Richtung des Pfeiles la in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 2 einen Schnitt längs der Linie 11-11 in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 eine Seitenansicht eines Trennsteges gemäß Fig. 1.
• Fig. 4 einen Schnitt längs der Linie IV-IV in Fig. 3;
• Fig. 5 einen Schnitt längs der Linie V-V in Fig. 3;
• Fig. 6 die Stirnseite eines Zwischensteges;
• Fig. 7 eine Ansicht in Richtung des Pfeiles VII in Fig 6;
• Fig. 8 eine Ansicht in Richtung des Pfeiles IIX in Fig 7;
• Fig. 9 eine Ansicht auf einen Abschlußsteg ähnlich der Darstellung eines Trennsteges in Fig. 3;
• Fig. 10 einen Schnitt längs der Linie X-X in Fig. 9 und
• Fig. 11 einen Schnitt längs der Linie XI-XI in Fig. 10.

The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. Show:

• 1 shows a section through a chain link, consisting of two side plates and two transverse webs connecting them, chain links of different types being shown on the left and right of the dash-dotted center line;
• Figure 1a is a plan view of the end of a crossbar for a chain link of another type, seen in the direction of arrow la in Fig. 1.
• 2 shows a section along the line 11-11 in Fig. 1.
• 3 shows a side view of a separating web according to FIG. 1.
• Fig. 4 is a section along the line IV-IV in Fig. 3;
• 5 shows a section along the line VV in Fig. 3.
• 6 shows the end face of an intermediate web;
• Fig. 7 is a view in the direction of arrow VII in Fig. 6;
• Fig. 8 is a view in the direction of arrow IIX in Fig. 7;
• FIG. 9 shows a view of an end web similar to the illustration of a dividing web in FIG. 3;
• Fig. 10 is a section along the line XX in Fig. 9 and
• 11 shows a section along the line XI-XI in FIG. 10.

As already noted, a chain link is shown in section in Fig. 1 in the left half, in which the transverse webs 2 and 3 are not widened at their ends, as in the other type to be described below. Here, therefore, a separating web 4 with terminal support lugs can be inserted and moved close to the side plate 1.

At a distance from this dividing web 4, another dividing web 19 is inserted between the cross webs. The two separating webs 4 and 19 are firmly connected to one another by intermediate webs 5 and 6, middle-tailed connections. Cables 7 and 8 are inserted into the three subspaces formed between the two dividers.

Two additional intermediate webs 22 and 23 are held by the separating web 19 on the side opposite the intermediate webs 5 and 6, which in turn form subspaces in which cables 24, 25 and 26 are located.

In this way, the entire interior of the chain link between the left and the right (not shown) side plate is divided by separating webs and intermediate webs.

In the other construction shown on the right of the dash-dotted center line, the crossbars 12 and 13 are connected to the side plates, of which the right side plate 11 is shown, by means of special plug-in connections, without additional screws. In this design, there is a separating web 29 between the two transverse webs 12 and 13, which carries intermediate webs 15 and 16 through dovetail connections, which extend towards the side plate 11. Two intermediate webs are also arranged on the opposite side of the separating plate 29 (22 and 23). Cables 27 and 28 or cables 17 and 18 in the vicinity of the side plate 11 are inserted into the subspaces formed between these intermediate webs and the transverse webs.

While the separating web 29 is provided in the same way as the separating webs for the older type of chain link with support lugs 33-36 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) with which it encompasses the transverse webs 12 and 13 in a forked manner, this is sealed for the reasons mentioned below no longer possible on the side plate 11. As can be seen from Fig. 1a, namely, the end of the crosspiece 12 (and accordingly the end of the crosspiece 13) is widened in the vicinity of the side plate 11 (widening 31), so that a separator with support lugs, such as the separator 29, is not could be moved close to the side plate 11. For such chain links of the other type is therefore on the side plate 11 (and accordingly also on the opposite side plate, not shown) instead of the separating crosspiece used in the middle, a somewhat modified end crosspiece 14 is used. This end web, in turn, carries the intermediate webs 15 and 16 via a dovetail connection and is non-positively inserted at its ends between the upper cross web 12 and the lower cross web 13. However, this end web has no support lugs at its ends for the aforementioned reasons. In order to prevent this end web from being pushed out in the direction of the longitudinal direction of the cable during operation, the end web is provided on its side adjoining the side plate 11 with a fitting rib 30 which extends in the direction from one to the other cross web and which has a corresponding shape in a fitting groove and Size engages in the side plate 11. Instead of a continuous fitting rib and corresponding fitting groove, fitting pins and fitting holes can of course also be used.

In this way, the end web 14 is held immovably despite the widenings 31 of the cross webs 12 and 13. In Fig. 1a, a latching projection 32 is shown at the end of a pin projecting from the side plate 11, which engages in a corresponding slot in the crosspiece 12 and secures the plug connection between the side plate and crosspiece.

In Fig. 2, the separating web 19, the cables 24, 25 and 26, the two transverse webs 2 and 3 and the intermediate webs 22 and 23 and behind the side plate 1 are shown in a simplified representation.

FIGS. 3 to 5 show a separating web 29 which can be used both for one and for the other type of chain link, with support lugs 33 to 36, mutually essentially dovetail-shaped holding grooves 37 to 44 and a special design of the bottom of the holding grooves. As can be seen in particular from the sectional view in FIG. 5, the holding groove 40 to 44 extends only over part of its length, namely up to the heel 4g or 50, at the same depth. In the aforementioned paragraph, the depth of the holding groove is reduced by a fraction and then continues to decrease along the curved ramp surfaces 51 and 52, in order to completely run out in the last quarter of the total width of the separating web 29. Behind the end of this groove, locking holes 48 and 53 are then provided, the meaning of which will be explained below.

Corresponding to the grooves 40 and 44, the other grooves 37 to 39 and 41 to 43 are also formed.

Before the special design of the retaining grooves and the function of the locking holes are discussed in more detail, the shape of the intermediate webs belonging to this and shown in FIGS.

As can be seen from FIGS. 7 and 8, the latching lugs 54 and 55 of the intermediate web 23 only extend over part of the length of the end faces. In the vicinity of the other end of these end surfaces, locking pins 56, 57 protrude from these end surfaces. Both the locking lugs and the locking pins are slightly offset from the central plane of the intermediate web.

When inserting the intermediate web 23 into one of the different holding grooves of the separating web 29, for example into the holding groove 40, the locking pin 56 is first inserted into the groove. When pushed in further, the locking pin 56 then jumps over the shoulder 50 (FIG. 5) and slides upwards along the ramp 52 until the locking lug 54 finally slides into the groove 40. Finally, the locking pin 56 snaps into the locking hole 48 provided for it by exerting a slight pressure on the upper side of the intermediate web 23. The intermediate web 23 is now secured against sliding out of the groove 40 of the separating web 29. The other intermediate webs are inserted and locked in a corresponding manner.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, each separating web has a plurality of holding grooves, namely two holding grooves running relatively close to one another at the upper end and two such holding grooves at the lower end. The fact that the intermediate webs are inserted into one or the other of these holding grooves enables the heights of the departments to be selected as desired. An intermediate position is made possible by the offset position of the locking lugs by using the intermediate web in one or in the reverse position.

As already mentioned, it is sufficient if the end web 4 (FIG. 1) for a chain link of the other type only has retaining grooves on the side facing the interior. However, one can of course also use an end web with shark grooves arranged on both sides, thereby simplifying the position.

In the end web 14 for chain links of a different type, the arrangement of holding grooves only makes sense on the inside, as can be seen from FIG. 1 and also from FIGS. 9 to 11. These holding grooves 58 to 61 (FIGS. 9 and 10) are otherwise designed in the same way as the holding grooves of the separating webs 29 and 19, that is, as shown in FIG. 5 for such a separating web.

On the surface of the end web 14 opposite the grooves, there is a fitting rib 30, approximately in the middle thereof, which is received in the adjacent side plate 11 by a fitting groove of corresponding shape and size when the chain link is assembled.

• Nachdem die Seitenwände mit den Querstegen zusammengesetzt, also entweder verschraubt oder bei Kettenglieder dieser Bauart zusammengesteckt sind, wird an jeder der beiden Seitenplatten zwischen den Querstegen ein Abschlußsteg eingesetzt und dicht an die Seitenplatte herangeschoben. Dabei greift bei einem Abschlußsteg für ein Kettenglied neuerer Bauart die Paßrippe 30 in die entsprechende Paßnut ein.

A chain link is assembled in the following way:

• After the side walls are assembled with the crossbars, i.e. either screwed or plugged together with chain links of this type, each of the the end plates between the crossbars inserted a final web and pushed close to the side plate. In this case, the fitting rib 30 engages in the corresponding fitting groove in a terminating web for a chain link of a more recent design.

The desired number of dividers is then inserted between the crosspieces between the two side plates by first inserting these dividers at an oblique angle and then screwing them into the end bearings.

Finally, after the separating webs have been moved along the transverse webs in their desired position, the intermediate webs, with their latching lugs first, are inserted into the corresponding retaining grooves of the dividing webs or the end webs and latched by means of the latching pins and latching holes.

All parts of the chain link now form a rigid, non-detachable unit. It is possible to separate the individual inserts by removing the locking pins from their locking holes at each intermediate web and then pulling the dividers out again.

Claims (4)

1. Stud link for energy supply chains comprising two side plates 1, 11 which are connected by means of transverse bars 2, 3; 7, 13, are formed so as to produce a hinged connection with connected stud links, and of which the intermediate space, which is delimited by the side plates and the transverse bars, is divided by separating bars 4, 19, 29, inserted between the transverse bars and extending perpendicular thereto, and by intermediate bars 5, 6; 22, 23, which are inserted between adjacent separating bars and extend perpendicular thereto, characterised in that the separating bars 4, 19, 29 formed as plates are disposed displaceably between the transverse bars 2, 3; 12, 13 and bear at the corners thereof projecting support noses 33, 34, 35, 36 which surround the transverse bars in pairs and in the manner of a fork and prevent the separating bars falling out; in that the separating bars 4,19, 29 are provided on both sides with one or a plurality of retaining grooves 37-44 which are distributed over the height thereof and in each case are flush with one another on both sides; and in that the intermediate bars 5, 6; 22, 23 bear at the ends thereof detents 54, 55 which in each case may optionally be inserted in one of the retaining grooves.

2. Stud link according to claim 1, characterised in that, at the ends of the transverse bars there is disposed a closure bar 14 which comprises on its side adjacent the side plate 11 an adaptor rib 30 which engages in an adaptor groove having a corresponding shape and size in the side plate, and extends in the direction from one transverse bar to the other; and in that the closure bar 14 comprises on the side thereof lying opposite the adaptor rib 30 one or a plurality of retaining grooves 58-61 which are distributed over the height thereof and are aligned with the retaining grooves 37­44 in the separating bars 4,19, 29 in their vertical position.

3. Stud link according to claim 1, characterised in that the detents 54, 55 only extend over part of the length of the end surfaces of the intermediate bars 5, 6; 22, 23; in that in the vicinity of the other end of the end surfaces, engagement pins 56, 57 project from the said end surfaces; and in that engagement holes 45, 46, 47, 48 are provided in the separating bars 19, 29 behind the ends of the retaining grooves in order to accommodate the engagement pins in a locking manner.

4. Stud link according to claim 3, characterised in that the base of each retaining groove 37-40 forms towards the end thereof a slope 51, 52 introducing the engagement pin 56, 57 into the engagement hole 48, 53.

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